My mother (79) has dementia along with diabetes, high blood pressure, an aortic aneurysm and lactose intolerance. She is a danger to herself with leaving the stove on, not taking her pills, eating foods that give her diarrhea and are not good for her diabetes and is a fall risk. She insists she can live on her own when I do everything from paying the bills, budgeting, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, yard work and anything else that needs to be done. She can't even bend over to pick up something she drops, how can she think she can function alone? Anyways, this comes up because she needs constant supervision and I make very little money babysitting so I can supervise her 24/7. She always throws it in my face that I do not contribute financially. I do, not as much as I wish I could, but I keep and maintain a car so we can get to needed appointments and places and so I can do errands and go grocery shopping and I contribute to the groceries and necessities. But she and my sisters make me feel like a leech when I have given up ten of my best years to be here for her so she can stay in her own home. But enough is enough. I want out. If they think she is better off without me, how do I make that happen? She needs constant supervision. I feel that if I leave, it won't be long before she ends up in a nursing home as the sisters refuse to do their part in helping. She isn't making much on SS so funds are an issue paying out of pocket for in home help. My mom is dead set against going to a nursing home and I feel it would make her give up on life. I love her more than anything, but I need to start living my own life and feel worth something again. Where do I start?
If yes, good. If no. Ok need a plan.
Would a sib arrive for you to take a holdiay? Or if you just needed a weekend to recharge? Who's backing YOU up?
You could get one of your siblings to come sit with mom or leave her alone if that is possible and then call them to come to her.
You don't have to wait, get seen today.
This might help your situation.
It also sounds like your mom can not make decisions for herself about her safety.
If this is the case and with the dementia diagnosis you or a sibling can obtain Guardianship and place her in Memory Care where she will be cared for and will be safe.
Application for Medicaid would help. Most facilities will want private pay for a while before Medicaid kicks in but there may be some that would accept her right away.
"...how can she think she can function alone?" This is dementia lying to her. My mother was the same way - her mantra was that she was "fine, independent and can cook." She was not and could not! Despite AL being in her plans before dementia, once it kicked in, even in the earlier stages, this was NOT an option for her anymore. It was even more distasteful than offers from my brothers for her to move in with them (but was still adamant that she was fine and wanted to stay in her place!) We did try bringing in aides, just for 1 hr/day to check on her and make sure she took her meds. That didn't last 2 months - she refused to let them in, so we had to figure out a way to move her to MC.
Given your mom's various ailments, she could likely also qualify for NH. Many people immediately say NH, but that is mainly for those who need specialized nursing care. Medicaid can be used for NHs, but not so much for MC (there are some exceptions.)
While looking for employment and exploring what help might be available (you can try push back on sisters, but I wouldn't hold my breath on them changing!), you should also look at dementia-proofing the home, like child-proofing. You mention locking the fridge, which is a start. If you are going out, even for short trips, you should disable the stove. The cabinets can have child-proof locks installed to prevent her getting into sugar, etc. These will not only help her, but you as well, since you have to deal with the aftermath!
Does anyone have POAs? These will be useful for managing her finances and medical care, but will NOT give anyone authority to move her. If no POAs are in place yet, it may be too late. Some attorneys will question the person, to determine if they are capable, but given what you've said about her, I don't see that happening.
Just finding a job and moving out shouldn't be the only steps taken. They are important for you, to provide you with a life and future, and should be part of the plan, but she should not be left to her own devices, as she is not capable of self care. EC attys are not cheap, but often will at least offer a short first consult for free. You can find local ones using zip code at naela.org. Have all questions and concerns ready before any consult. Be sure to highlight lack of funding for atty and care options. They can also help with processing Medicaid care. APS may have suggestions, but generally they are not your best option for help.
Your sisters are at this point very selfish. They have relied on you all these years and expect it to continue, but offer no help. Although my brothers did contribute SOME to input for plans and a little help in dealing with things, certainly not enough or their "share." At some point I found it best to just do what needed to be done and forget consulting with them. I don't and won't provide the hands-on care, but I do manage and take care of everything else for her care. One brother I haven't spoken to or seen in over 2 years now (related to his abuse of me) and the other is becoming more difficult to deal with. Once mom passes, I plan to consider myself an only child! We share parents and genes, but that's about it. I often have said, and still believe, that I received most of the brains in our family!
Best of luck - work on finding the right solution for mom and yourself. Don't count on their help too much.
1) you apply to be guardian
2) allow the state to be guardian
Option 1 will NOT require you to provide her care. You would just be the one to make decisions and oversee her care, preferably in an appropriate facility. It requires keeping good records and reporting to the court when requested, but allows you to ensure she gets the care you prefer. It also overrides any POA, in the event that one or both of your sisters have been "assigned" as POAs.
Option 2 means none of you will have any say in where she will live or what happens to any of her assets, including a house, if she owns it. You can still visit, etc, but will have no input to residence, care or finances.
This extra option may sound a bit harsh, but at least consider just accepting her poor food choices. If she makes herself very ill, it will also bring things to a head.
It is also possible that you may have to call their bluff. That requires nose-hardening, I agree, but it is temporary.
Yes agree. I talked & talked about not being the 'on call' option for my days off. Phone would still ring.
I mentioned possibility of working extra days/weekends & informed them. Got blank looks.
They had an alternative. To increase hours from a care agency.
It was with councelling I saw this 'only family can do it' cr@p I was falling for. The F.O.G I was under.
I took on extra work hours, study, hobby - added to MY life. I gave fair warning & alternatives. I don't believe in just walking out. Especially if dementia or cognitive issues - they really are vulnerable & don't get it. It really does matter who has authority. I had none to book an agency. If I did, they would cancel. (I actually found out later they were cancelling agency shifts on my days off & calling me instead).
My relative actually had to sit, wet, dirty & unwashed several times before they arranged more care. Many times fallen & waiting for EMS too after I stopped attending.
I truly hope NutMeg's sisters are not so stubborn. That they can see she needs a life, support a change & help find a solution. Not just pile on the problem: no we don't see any issue.
I think that's why I think a Doctor's recommendation is required. If he/she says what care is now required. It does sound like assistance for all ADLs & all day supervision. If the sisters have that 'family only' mindset, they will have to either step-up big time or lose that mindset fast.
Maybe a part-time job & a paid Aide while at work? (If there is an affordable service for this). But casual jobs will be impossible as Aides need to be booked in advance.
But I totally agree warning Mother & siblings NutMeg will be making this big change. Since currently there, to give notice is reasonable but to just leave unreasonable. OP should be warned to expect pushback +++ to remain.
Reaslistically, if Mother needs all day supervision, either A. Aides need to stay all day or B. she moves into care. Need a realistic view of her needs first.
Do YOU have the funds saved up to move out? You have no power or standing if you don’t have the ability to be free of her home. You can’t say you’re done and leaving if you can’t actually go somewhere and get a place to call your own.
So get the job you want. Start building savings quietly. If in your absence while you’re working, your mother has an accident — well, that proves that point. If not — when you’re able, get a place and get out, and then negotiate what is to happen next.
No one needs to acknowledge that your mother needs a different living situation because you’re there maintaining her living situation. So the first step is getting yourself out.
Then, if what they all want is for you to care for her — that will have to be your JOB if you’ll be giving up your own to do that. If they can’t afford that, or are otherwise unwilling, then they’ll all have to step up to do their part or find a nursing home that will.
This doesn’t all fall on you. So work on yourself and building yourself up to where you can properly negotiate what needs to be done.
My two cents.
Then, tell your mother and your sisters that you will be starting work on [date] and they will need to arrange support for your mother.
You're right: your getting a job and an income will change their attitude beyond measure. Yours too. That's definitely where to start. Do you have any employment ideas in the pipeline?
I think start with more knowledge about Mom's whole health situation. That may show the way forward.
Has she had a thorough medical checkup lately? Book it & take her. Discuss your concerns with the Doctor - just a short version will do. "Mom needs a lot of help these days. I'll be returning to work & possibly moving in the near/medium future. What do you suggest?"
Don't dismiss any suggestions the Doctor makes - warning: talk of NH or even hospice may even come up. But get the FACTS. Start there.
Make goals and plans for yourself with a timeline for moving out and on with your life. Don’t back down. Don’t let them FOG you. Fear-Obligation-Guilt.
Contact APS and report her as a vulnerable adult. Let them come in and assess the situation. You can’t help your mother if she won’t help herself. Good luck! You can do it!
I know it will be really tough to scrounge up enough money to be able to make that happen, you might have to borrow some money in the short term. But as long as you're living under your mom's roof, you're going to be her caregiver, and as Geaton so eloquently put it, perpetuate the illusion of "independence". Give mom and sisters 24 hour notice ("I'm moving out tomorrow") and then do it. Let them scramble and take care of mom for a few days and I guarantee the rose colored glasses through which they see mom's health will be removed, and they'll be onboard with placing her in a care facility.